Chapter 1

Working late at the office, my wife suddenly sent me a video on Snapchat.

"Babe, there's a creepy homeless guy right outside our door. I'm so scared!"

In the video, a man in tattered clothes was sitting on our porch, muttering weirdly.

I immediately took off from work and rushed to my car, driving as fast as I could.

But on the way, my brakes failed, and I crashed.

Only after I died did I realize it was just a viral online prank.

The homeless man in the video was completely AI-generated.

What made it worse was that my wife’s "guy best friend" was the one who had planned the whole thing.

They had even tampered with my brakes beforehand.

To top it off, they went live on TikTok after my death, tearfully claiming that a "harmless AI prank" had accidentally killed me.

They gained millions of sympathetic followers and made a fortune.

The universe must have felt my burning rage, because it gave me a second chance.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my wife sent me that video.

***

"Ethan? Are you there? Answer me!"

Chloe’s message popped up on Snapchat again, urgent and demanding.

My chest heaved violently as I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

The metallic taste of blood spread in my mouth.

Suppressing my overwhelming hatred, I typed back letter by letter: "Don't be scared. Lock the door. I'm coming home right now."

Chloe replied instantly: "You're the best! Hurry up! [Kiss emoji]"

Disgusting.

I grabbed my jacket and rushed out of the office.

A colleague called out behind me, "Ethan, what about the reports?"

"Family emergency!" I shouted without looking back.

I dashed into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, the mirror showed my pale face, my eyes bloodshot with fury.

I immediately messaged my sister, Lily: "Lily, I need you to look up a license plate for me: 387-9CS."

"Do it fast. Track its location and see where it is tonight."

When the elevator reached the lobby, I didn't head to the parking garage.

I knew the brakes on my car were already tampered with.

Going there was a death sentence.

Instead, I walked over to the coffee shop at the corner of the building, found a secluded table, and sat down.

I opened my laptop.

It was time to plan my revenge.

In my past life, I died without knowing the truth. In this life, I would make them pay a hundred times over.

My phone vibrated. Lily had replied.

"Ethan, I found it."

"That car is parked in the underground garage at Riverview Apartments."

My eyes narrowed.

Lily sent another message: "But he just posted on his Instagram story. He tagged his location at The Velvet Lounge downtown, saying he's out drinking with clients."

The car was at his place, but he claimed to be at a bar.

What a perfect alibi.

I smiled coldly.